Francisco Cervelli visited the Biogenesis clinic in March 2011 as he sought treatment for a foot injury. / Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

TAMPA - New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli regrets that he went to a South Florida wellness clinic known for providing performance-enhancing drugs, consulting with clinic chief Tony Bosch, but said Wednesday he received nothing more than advice.

"I'll take responsibility,'' Cervelli said. "I don't know what kind of clinic it was. I take my responsibility. Nobody put a gun to my head to go there.

"I realize now that it was a mistake to go there, but it already happened, so what can I do?''

Cervelli said he was recommended from an unidentified friend to meet with Bosch at the Biogenesis clinic in March, 2011, to help overcome a foot injury. He was never offered performance-enhancing drugs, he said, and left simply with recommendations.

"I went there for maybe some suggestions, and that's it,'' Cervelli said. "I walked away with nothing in my hands. No supplements. I just went there and talked. That's it.''

In Cervelli's original statement from his Twitter account last week, he said that he received legal supplements, but repeated several times Wednesday that he never obtained anything.

When asked why he would attend a clinic instead of seeking consultation from the Yankees' medical staff, he said he simply was seeking a second opinion.

"Sometimes, when you get injured, you get a little desperate to come back quick,'' Cervelli said. "I went there, somebody told me, and that's it.''

He would not reveal who gave him the recommendation, but insisted no player or agent was involved. He's friends with Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who's identified in Bosch's records as receiving 19 different drugs, according to the Miami New Times, but said that he hasn't spoken with Rodriguez this winter. He also said they never discussed the clinic in the past.

"I was surprised with all of the names,'' said Cervelli. "I don't know other players were there. I just know about myself. I believe they [MLB] they have an open investigation right now‚?¶.

"I'm not worried. I'm here. They've got to do what they've got to do. I tell the truth, I have nothing to hide.''

Cervelli, who says he has never taken performance-enhancing drugs in his career, also believes it won't become a distraction. He says he has not yet spoken with MLB investigators probing the Biogenesis case.

"I've been with the Yankees for 10 years already,'' Cervelli said. "This has been my dream for Day 1 to be starting catcher, have fun, and do things right. I know my situation right now. I'm here to play baseball.''